Prescriptions patterns for stimulants do not correlate with reports of nonmedical use and ED visits, according to an analysis of 3 national surveys.

Investigators used data from the National Disease and Therapeutic Index, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and Drug Abuse Warning Network to examine changes over time and links between prescriptions, nonmedical use, and emergency visits.

In adolescents:

• Treatment visits involving dextroamphetamine-amphetamine and methylphenidate decreased over time; nonmedical use continued to be stable, and nonmedical use declined by more than half over 6 years.

• ED visits involving either medication were stable over the period.

In adults:

• Treatment visits involving dextroamphetamine-amphetamine remained unchanged, while nonmedical use went up by more than two-thirds and ED visits increased by nearly 160%.

• The trends for methylphenidate were unchanged.

The major source for nonmedical use of both medications was a friend or relative. Two-thirds of the friends/relatives received medication from a physician.

Citation: Chen L, Crum R, Strain E, Alexander G, Kaufmann C, Mojtabai R. Prescriptions, nonmedical use, and emergency department visits involving prescription stimulants. [Published online ahead of print February 16, 2016]. J Clin Psychiatry. doi: 10.4088/JCP.14m09291.